Improvement in indexes



P. L. BUTTER. Index.

No. 206,022. Patented July 16, 1878.

WITNEEEEE Y INVNTmR- mms/ffm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS L. BUTTER, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN INDEXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 206,022, dated July 16, 1878; application filed March 30, 1578.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS L. HUTTEE, of Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Indexes, of which the following is a speciieation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to an improvement in indexes for dockets and other books or papers in which names are entered or recorded; and consists in providing upon the edge of a leaf or press-board secured in the after part of the book the letters of the alphabet in regular order, which letters are separated by horizontal lines, and have immediately beneath them, in their respective spaces, certain figures or other characters, the letters indicating the initial of the Christian name, and the numbers the pages upon which the record of said name may be found.

Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings is represented a book having the usual lids or covers a, and the leaves b, which should not be quite so wide as the lids, and upon the edge of one of which, in the latter part of the book, is, in the present instance, secured a strip of morocco, d, which extends outward beyond the remaining leaves of the book, and nearly or about to the edge of the lid or back cover of saine.

Thus it is obvious that if the book be thick the strip and the matter written or printed thereon can be seen without opening it, or, it' the book contains a very limited number of pages, then the strip will become visible by raising the front cover or lid.

It is evident, therefore, that to nd a eertan name it is only necessary to ascertain the initial of the Christian name, glance at the alphabetical index on the strip in the rear of book, and note the number occurring immediately beneath the letter of same corresponding with the said initial. Thus the attendant has the number of the page upon which may be found the desired name, and the matter relating thereto, without handling the book or index, thereby saving time and labor and the wear and tear of the book.

It is also evident that the rear lid or cover of the book preserves the indexioal strip from contact with passing objects, and that, if desired, one of the back leaves ot' the book could be extended outward and the index written or printed upon the edge of that.

I am aware that an indexical strip has heretofore been secured upon the edge of one ot the back leaves of a book, but in such ease the strip protruded beyond the edge of the covers, and did not refer to the pages ofthe book. Therefore such an index is not included in this application.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters latent, is

l. A book in which one of the back leaves is provided ou its vertical edge with an index consisting of the letters of the alphabet, properly spaced, and of a series of figures or other indicatin g-charaeters, arranged substantially as shown and set forth.

2. The index d, attached to the vertical edge of one ofthe back leaves of the book, and consisting of the letters ofthe alphabet, properly spaced, and of a series ot' figures, all arranged substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing improvement in indexes, as above described, I have hereunto set 1ny hand this 27th day of March, 187:5.

FRANCIS L. IIUTTER.

Witnesses EUGENE SNYDER, J AMEs M. MILLER. 

